The little travellers do not know
Which way to go, which way to go,
But here's a sign-post that will tell;
Ah! now they know the way quite well.
The travellers should be told the names on the sign-post before starting, and each should choose the place to which he will journey. After the lines are repeated, each traveller takes the road that leads to his destination.
Preliminary.—One of her Majesty's inspectors remarked on one occasion that he could judge of the intelligence and manners of a school by the way in which its scholars playing in the street would reply if asked a question as to the whereabouts of any particular place in the locality.
It is doubtless desirable that children should know something of the streets and roads of the district in which they live, and if they have clear ideas as to the meaning of 'right' and 'left,' the following game should help them in describing the position of places.
The streets may be made by the children themselves standing in rows, as in the preceding game; or if the space available be small, the children may stand round the room, while the plan of the streets is chalked on the floor. There should be one central street, with others branching out of it right and left, and each should be named. It may be possible to arrange and name the streets of some district with which the children are familiar. The name of each should be written on a card and placed at the end of the street. The accompanying diagram will illustrate the playing of the game. We will suppose that a little girl comes walking up Victoria Road, and at the point × meets a gentleman (a little boy), who asks, 'Can you please direct me to Queen Street?' 'Yes,' she replies, 'it is the second turning on the left.' The place of meeting may be varied, and the children will then see that the terms 'right' and 'left' are interchangeable, according to the direction in which we are walking. In the following instance, e.g. Queen Street is on the right instead of left. More difficult questions may be asked as the children get to understand better, such as, 'Which is the way to Alexandra Road?' (starting from *). 'Take the second turning to the right, then turn to left, and it is the first street on the right.'
13. POLITENESS IN STREETS
The streets ([p. 26]) of Game No. 12 may be utilised for this game. The children should have on their hats and caps, and walk along the streets. The game is intended to teach them how to behave when walking; they should keep to the right, not speak loudly, and the boys should raise their caps when they meet anyone who acknowledges them.